It was April 22, 2003, exactly one year to the day that she and Sonny had made love. Alexis was sitting in her apartment trying not to think about it yet unable to think of anything else. Kristina was already asleep and so Alexis was alone.
She was more than a little surprised when the phone rang since everyone in town seemed to be avoiding her.
"Hello?"
"Hi, it's me."
"I'm so happy you called. Alexis sighed. They had developed a close friendship, these two women who the entire town seemed to be against. It had begun just one month earlier at the hospital when Skye had overheard an argument in the hospital and couldn't help herself from listening.
"Ned I told you Kristina and I are not moving into the Gatehouse so get used to it."
Alexis turned to walk away but was stopped by Ned's hand on her arm.
"And I told you what would happen if you don't move in with me." He told her.
Skye could see the momentary look of fear in Alexis' eyes before she covered it.
"Go to hell." She flung at Ned before pulling her arm out of his grasp and walking away. She continued to walk quickly until she saw some chairs and gratefully sat down holding Kristina on her lap.
She heard someone approach and looked up, ready to tell Ned off again. However instead of Ned she found Skye looking down and smiling at Kristina, who was eagerly smiling back.
"She's beautiful Alexis."
"Thank you," Alexis replied not sure what else to say. She and Skye had never been good friends but she felt bad for the woman who had so obviously loved Jax and had her heart broken by him.
Skye sat down beside Alexis and both women were silent, unsure of what to say next.
"Men suck." Skye said suddenly and Alexis couldn't help but laugh. It was an expression she would never use but in this moment it fit. She laughed as someone does when they have to laugh or they'll cry. Skye soon joined in and both women sat there giggling uncontrollably, oblivious to the strange looks they were getting. Even Kristina was smiling happily at her mother and the nice red haired lady.
From there the three of them had gone to lunch where Alexis was able to talk about the joy of being a Mom for the first time since she'd had Kristina. Both women were so happy to have someone listen without judging that they ended up spending the entire afternoon together.
They had become best friends over the last month. Skye was the only person she had told about Sonny being Kristina's father.
"Is something wrong with Kristina?" Skye asked concerned.
"No, something's wrong with me."
"Want me to come over?"
"Do you mind?"
"Give me ten minutes." Skye told her before hanging up the phone.
An hour later the two women were deep in conversation, actually it was more like a debate.
"You know damn well you could take Sonny away from Carly in two seconds flat if you wanted to." Skye argued.
"Why would I want to?" Alexis challenged.
"To see the look on that witches face when she found out?" At this point Alexis couldn't suppress the grin that seemed to form naturally at such a thought.
"No, not even for that," she replied though she was tempted.
"Come on Alexis aren't you even a little curious. I mean I'd be willing to bet he'd drop Carly in a second if you showed even the slightest bit of interest."
"It's not going to happen Skye." Alexis dismissed.
"I dare you."
"Give it up."
"I double dare you."
"What are we five?"
"Alexis I have been watching you take Ned's verbal abuse for months, not to mention everyone else in this town and I've decided it's time to stop it." Skye told her suddenly dead serious. She was worried about her friend.
"And me going after Sonny would do this?"
"Yes, You have it in your head that Sonny chose Carly over you."
"He did marry her again."
"Only because you sent him away, now let me finish. As I was saying you have it in your head that Sonny didn't want you which lead to a major case of self-doubt, I know because I've been there. The difference is I fought for Jax and as much as it hurt when he chose Brenda at least I know I tried."
"So your saying I need to fight for Sonny in order to regain my self esteem?"
"No I'm saying you're letting everyone walk all over you and it needs to stop. I'm also saying that all this started with Sonny therefore it makes sense that it end with him."
"Let's just say for a moment that I consider this utterly insane idea. And let us further suppose that I manage to get Sonny..."
"Which you will."
"What do you suggest I do with him?" Alexis continued ignoring the interruption.
"Alexis, Sonny is a healthy, attractive adult male, I am sure you can find some use for him." Skye replied with a smirk.
"My point is that I don't want a relationship with Sonny."
"Who said anything about a relationship?"
"You want me to use Sonny for sex?"
"I can think of worse ways to spend my time."
"Then you do it."
"I'm not in love with him."
"Neither am I."
"Yeah right and Jax is a nuclear physicist."
"Even if I were it doesn't mean I want him in my life."
"Alexis I'm not telling you to marry the guy, just get him interested."
"I wouldn't even know where to begin."
"Well, given the evidence upstairs, sleeping like an angel in her crib I'd have to say Sonny was pretty interested before, just do whatever you did then."
"Make him call off a hit?"
"What?"
"Never mind." She dismissed.
"So does this mean you're going to do it?"
Alexis thought about all the things Skye had said. She had been letting people walk all over her lately. She had been doing it for far too long. Maybe Skye was right, seducing Sonny, taking control might be just what the doctor ordered. She was tired of taking crap from everyone, she was ready to be herself again.
"What the hell, I never could resist a double dare."
Sonny was sitting alone in his Penthouse. Carly and Michael had left three days earlier. As far as most people knew they had gone on vacation and would be back in a couple weeks. He couldn't stop thinking about what day it was, wondering if she remembered too.
He heard a brief knock before Johnny opened the door.
"Brenda's here." He told Sonny before showing her in.
"Hi," she greeted nervously. She knew the truth about what had happened with Carly and was afraid Sonny might be in a throwing mood.
"Come on in." Sonny invited warmly. Things between him and Brenda had been tense especially after he found out about her and Jason. However seeing them together he couldn't begrudge them the happiness they had found with each other. "Where's your husband?" He asked smiling, he still couldn't really believe Brenda and Jason were married.
"How would I know?" She shrugged smiling back. She found her relationship with Jason so much easier than with Jax. They didn't hover over each other, he didn't smoother her and she didn't ask questions. They were independent yet connected and she was loving it.
"So did you come here to check up on me?"
"No, hey since when do you eat popcorn?" She asked noticing the half empty bowl on his table.
Sonny looked down at the bowl and blushed as though he had been caught. Of course he knew there was no way for Brenda to know why he had made it but he was still embarrassed. He had done it automatically as he sometimes did putting it in the microwave, waiting for it to pop, then remembering she wasn't there to share it with him. He wasn't sure if he had actually forgotten or if he was merely pretending. Either way those few seconds he returned to reality were the happiest part of his day. Afterwards he would sit down with the bowl and munch half heatedly wondering what she was doing, if she missed him too.
"Um, I sort of got in the habit when Alexis..."
"Oh that's right I remember Jason mentioning something about Alexis and her micro-waved popcorn. Apparently he found a stash of it in the penthouse after she left. He had it sent over. So how long have you been in love with her?" She asked casually.
"Who?"
"Alexis."
"I'm not." He denied unconvincingly.
"Sure and Jax is a brain surgeon. Come on Sonny I could see exactly what you were thinking about when you looked at that popcorn, you are either in love with Alexis Davis or you have developed some weird fetish I really don't want to know about."
"Even if I were, and I'm not saying that I am, she hates me."
"No, she doesn't."
"Believe me Brenda she does." He told her forcefully. As much as he wished things could be different he had ruined things between himself and Alexis.
"Well, I used to hate Jason and we all know how that turned out." She told him with a grin.
"It's different." He dismissed.
"Yeah, you and Alexis have a connection to build on, Jason and I started out with nothing."
"I miss her." He admitted quietly. It felt good to be able to say it out loud, he had wanted to for so long.
"Well, as I see it you have two options. You can either sit here and mope for the rest of your life or you can get up and do something to fix it."
Sonny smiled sadly.
"Option C." He sighed wistfully.
"What?"
"I was just thinking of this time Alexis listed all my options for dealing with Carly. I chose the wrong one."
"Maybe it's not too late to fix it."
"It is." He replied sadly.
"I bet you its not. In fact I bet you if you made some effort you could win Alexis back, at least as a friend but you'll never know until you try."
"I can't. I just..."
"Come on I dare you."
"What?"
"I dare you to try and make emends with Alexis. If she turns you down at least you'll know you tried."
"I don't think..."
"If you do this I swear I will never interfere in your love life again." She told him knowing it was the one thing he would want most.
"Promise?"
"Only if you make an honest effort, no half-assed attempts."
"Fine, I never could resist a dare."
Sonny Corinthos woke up on April 23 with a mission. He was going to win back the friendship of Alexis Davis. It was this thought which caused him to practically leap out of bed, eager to get started.
Alexis Davis woke up on April 23 with a mission. She was going to seduce Sonny Corinthos. It was this thought which caused Alexis to climb back into bed and pull the covers up over her head.